Gaming System and a Method of Gaming

ABSTRACT

A method of gaming comprising: generating a game outcome by selecting a plurality of symbols, and displaying the selected symbols on a display at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a three-dimensional array; and determining whether the game outcome includes one or more winning outcomes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/723,572 filed on December 21, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/324,524 filed on Nov. 26, 2008, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,360,861 issued Jan. 29, 2013, which claims benefit of UnitedStates Provisional Application No. 60/990874 filed on Nov. 28, 2007, allof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gaming system, a method of gaming, agame controller and computer program code.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a gaming system such as a video slot machinewherein symbols are displayed as a plurality of virtual reels on a videodisplay. Each reel comprises a plurality of symbols arranged in apredetermined sequence. Typically, when a reel stops, a plurality ofsymbols of each reel are visible on the display. For example, threesymbols of each reel. While the stopping position of the reel can bechosen in a number of different ways, in all cases, the symbols whichstop in the display define a 2-dimensional display array having a widthx defined by the number of reels and a height y defined by the number ofsymbols of the reel that are displayed. For example, in a three reelslot machine, the displayed array would have a width x of three symbols(one for each reel) and a height y of three symbols defining a 3×3two-dimensional array of nine symbols. As is known in the art “symbols”can include images, numbers, e.g. a “7”, letters or can be “blanks” (noimage, number or letter).

The array also provides symbol arrangements which can be defined by paylines. Historically only one pay line was used which was the horizontalcenterline through the array. Later, three pay lines were used definedby the three horizontal line through the array. Modernly more pay linessuch as diagonals and reflecting lines through the array have been used.Players wager upon pay lines and when an outcome arranged along awagered upon pay line corresponds to a predetermined winning symbolarrangement such as, for example, three 7s, the player is issued anaward.

While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need existsfor alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase playerenjoyment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising:

generating a game outcome by selecting a plurality of symbols, anddisplaying the selected symbols on a display at respective ones of aplurality of display positions arranged in a three-dimensional array;and

determining whether the game outcome includes one or more winningoutcomes.

In an embodiment, the method comprises receiving a player selectiondefining a player win entitlement and wherein determining whether thegame outcome includes a winning outcome is based on the player winentitlement.

In an embodiment, the player selection is made by selecting at least oneof a plurality of pay lines, each pay line comprising a different set ofthe plurality of display positions, and wherein determining whetherthere is one or more winning outcome comprises determining whether tomake an award based on each player selected pay line and the selectedsymbols.

In an embodiment, the plurality of pay lines include pay lines inrespective ones of a plurality of different parallel planes.

In an embodiment, at least two of the plurality of pay lines are inrespective ones of a pair of transverse planes.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the same along atleast two axes of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the same along allthree axes of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the different alongthe third axis of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 3×3×3 array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 4×4×4 array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 5×3×3 array.

In an embodiment, selecting the symbols comprises randomly selectingstop positions for a plurality of reels.

In an embodiment, the number of the plurality of reels corresponds tothe number of symbol positions in a plane parallel to two axes of thethree-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, each symbol is displayed as three-dimensional on thedisplay.

In an embodiment, the steps of generating a game outcome and determiningwhether the game outcome includes one or more winning outcomes areperformed by a game controller.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a game controller for agaming system, the game controller arranged to:

generate a game outcome by selecting a plurality of symbols, anddisplaying the selected symbols on a display at respective ones of aplurality of display positions arranged in a three-dimensional array;and

determine whether the game outcome includes one or more winningoutcomes.

In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to receive a playerselection defining a player win entitlement and wherein determiningwhether the game outcome includes a winning outcome is based on theplayer win entitlement.

In an embodiment, the player selection comprises at least one of aplurality of pay lines, each pay line comprising a different set of theplurality of display positions, and wherein the game controllerdetermines whether there is one or more winning outcome by determiningwhether to make an award based on each player selected pay line and theselected symbols.

In an embodiment, the plurality of pay lines include pay lines inrespective ones of a plurality of different parallel planes.

In an embodiment, at least two of the plurality of pay lines are inrespective ones of a pair of transverse planes.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the same along atleast two axes of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the same along allthree axes of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the different alongthe third axis of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 3×3×3 array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 4×4×4 array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 5×3×3 array.

In an embodiment, the game controller selects the symbols by randomlyselecting stop positions for a plurality of reels.

In an embodiment, the number of the plurality of reels corresponds tothe number of symbol positions in a plane parallel to two axes of thethree-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the game controller is implemented by a processorexecuting program code stored in a memory.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising:

a player interface comprising a video display and game instruction inputmechanism operable by a player to make a player selection specifying awin entitlement; and

a game controller arranged to:

-   -   generate a game outcome by selecting a plurality of symbols, and        displaying the selected symbols on a display at respective ones        of a plurality of display positions arranged in a        three-dimensional array; and    -   determine whether the game outcome includes one or more winning        outcomes.

In an embodiment, the gaming system comprises a memory and a processorarranged to execute game program code stored in the memory to implementthe game controller.

In an embodiment, the memory stores data representing the plurality ofsymbols.

In an embodiment, the instruction input mechanism is operable by theplayer to input a wager in respect of the player selection.

In an embodiment, the instruction input mechanism is operable by theplayer to select at least one of a plurality of pay lines, each pay linecomprising a different set of the plurality of display positions, andwherein determining whether there is one or more winning outcomecomprises determining whether to make an award based on each playerselected pay line and the selected symbols.

In an embodiment, the plurality of pay lines include pay lines inrespective ones of a plurality of different parallel planes.

In an embodiment, at least two of the plurality of pay lines are inrespective ones of a pair of transverse planes.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the same along atleast two axes of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the same along allthree axes of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the number of symbol positions is the different alongthe third axis of the three-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 3×3×3 array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 4×4×4 array.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional array is a 5×3×3 array.

In an embodiment, the game controller is arranged to select the symbolscomprises randomly selecting stop positions for a plurality of reels.

In an embodiment, the number of the plurality of reels corresponds tothe number of symbol positions in a plane parallel to two axes of thethree-dimensional array.

In an embodiment, each symbol is displayed as three-dimensional on thedisplay.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides computer program code whichwhen executed implements the above method.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a computer readable storagemedium comprising the program code.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides transmitting the program code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in relation to thefollowing drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gaming machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gamingmachine;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram representing the structure of a memory;

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematic of a networked gaming system;

FIG. 6 is a further block diagram of the gaming system;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an embodiment;

FIGS. 8A-8C show a 3×3×3 three dimensional array and the horizontal paylines in the sub-arrays;

FIGS. 9A-9C show pay lines of the array of FIG. 8 which include symbolsfrom two or more sub-arrays; and

FIGS. 10A-10F, show an alternative representation of the threedimensional array and selected pay lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The embodiment provides a gaming system having a game controller thatimplements a game where a game outcome is generated by selecting aplurality of symbols that are displayed at a plurality of displaypositions in a three-dimensional array. It is determined whether a gameoutcome includes a winning outcome corresponding to a player selection.For example, in one embodiment, a player selects pay lines to play froma plurality of pay lines. The pay lines are arranged such that at leastone pay line extends through the array. Thus, there are pay lines in atleast two different planes or sub-arrays.

Forms of Gaming Systems

In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all ormost components required for implementing the game are present in aplayer operable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some ofthe components required for implementing the game are present in aplayer operable gaming machine and some of the components required forimplementing the game are located remotely relative to the gamingmachine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used whereinpart of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine andpart of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a“thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game isexecuted remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operablegaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaminginformation to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged.For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine isnetworked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gamingmachine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example,the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thickclient” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played,operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent topersons skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system comprises several corecomponents. At the broadest level, the core components are a playerinterface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theplayer interface 50 is arranged to enable interaction between a playerand the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/outputcomponents required for the player to enter instructions includingselections and play the game.

Components of the player interface 50 may vary from embodiment toembodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable aplayer to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, agame play mechanism 56 that enables a player to input game playinstructions, and a speaker 58 for audio outputs.

The game controller 60 is in data communication with the playerinterface 50 and typically includes a processor 62 that processes thegame play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputsgame play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructionsare stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired.Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any devicethat can process game play instructions in accordance with game playrules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmablelogic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer(e.g. a PC) or a server.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 isillustrated in FIG. 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12having a video display 14 on which is displayed representations of agame 16 that can be played by a player, such as the game of theembodiment. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank ofbuttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, inparticular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit inputmechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input chute 24A and abill validator 24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed,for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card orcredit card or credits may be electronically downloaded from an accountsuch as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,377 the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference. A player marketing module may beprovided having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose ofreading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyaltyprogram. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flashdrive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by thereading device.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example game pay tablesand details of bonus awards and other information or images relating tothe game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a frontpanel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the frontpanel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 2 is in the form of a video display unit,particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, thedisplay 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any othersuitable video display unit. The top box 26 may also include a display,for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as thedisplay 14, or of a different type.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gamingmachine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 arestored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with theprocessor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include bothvolatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type ofmemory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory103. Memory 103 also stores data,—for example, in a datastructure—corresponding to the game symbols or indicia for the game.“Symbols” as used in this specification includes images which may bepictures, numbers, icons, letters or other indicia used for the play ofthe game as hereinafter described. Memory 103 may also store winningsymbol arrangements and awards which are used to determine when theplayer obtains a winning, outcome and the award for each winningoutcome.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes includingensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, aninput/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheraldevices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/orthe peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memoryfor storing associated instructions and data for use with theinput/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random numbergenerator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor102. The random numbers selected are processed by the processor 102 withdata from the memory 103 to randomly select and display the outcomes ofsymbols for the game as hereinafter described. In an embodiment, a 3Dgraphics card 114 may be used to render the depiction of thethree-dimensional array on the display 14 or one or more of the provideddisplays 106.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a player interface 120 includesperipheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101comprise one or more displays 106, a touch screen 107, a card and/orticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin inputmechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware maybe included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may beomitted as required for the specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communicationsinterface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, forexample, send status information, accounting information or otherinformation to a central controller, server or database and receive dataor commands from the central controller, server or database.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplarymemory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a massstorage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds programfiles for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or gamerelated code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to storegame programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/orauthenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller101.

FIG. 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternativeembodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which forexample may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arrangedin three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in FIG. 5, are connectedto the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operableinterface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on therequirements for implementing game play. While banks 203 of two gamingmachines are illustrated in FIG. 5, banks of one, three or more gamingmachines are also envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. Thedisplays 204 may, for example, be associated with one or more banks 203of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to displayrepresentations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202,and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional orinformational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of thegame played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as boththe game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, theycollectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloadingor access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, ifthe gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, aJackpot server 207 will be provided to carry out the accounting inrespect of the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also beprovided.

In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all ofthe game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With thisembodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gamingmachine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game serverwhich will process them and return game play outcomes to the gamingmachine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machinescould be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides aplayer interface operable using standard computer input and outputcomponents.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration ofthe gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor managementserver 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licensesrelating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is providedto allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devicesconnected to the network.

The gaming network 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, otherlocal networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide areanetwork such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with knowntechniques, functionality at the server side of the network may bedistributed over a plurality of different computers. For example,elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separateserver may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run arandom generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random numbergenerator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a plurality of games servers could be provided torun different games or a single game server may run a plurality ofdifferent games as required by the terminals.

As indicated above, in the embodiment the three-dimensional array ofsymbols is formed by displaying selected symbols at respective ones of aplurality of symbol positions. In the embodiment, the processor 62randomly selects the symbols and controls the display 16 to display thesymbols in a three dimensional array as exemplified by FIGS. 8-10.

The game controller 60 of the embodiment is shown in more detail in FIG.6. It will apparent that the processor 62 implements a number ofmodules, for example random number generator module 621 by executingsoftware routines. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that notall modules need be implemented by processor 62. For example, the randomnumber generator module 621 could be implemented by a separate circuitor by a random number generator server.

The outcome determiner 622 of game controller 60 selects symbols byemploying a stop selector 622A that randomly determines the stopposition for each virtual reel using random numbers from random numbergenerator 621. Data corresponding to each virtual reel is configured torepresent the arrangements of symbols as they would be displayed. Symboldata 641B stored in memory 64 represents each reel and the sequence ofthe symbols as they would appear on a reel strip if the virtual reelwere a physical reel, e.g. a “7” is above a “Blank” and below a“Cherry”. For example, if there are nine reels, each having twentysymbols (sometimes referred to as stops) the random number generator andstop selector 622A might determine that a series of stop positions arepositions: 3, 13, 7, 9, 1, 7, 14, 10 and 17—i.e. to particular positionsin the sequence of the symbols. These are then mapped to symbols suchthat the selected symbols for a centre line position in the display 16for each reel are, for example, a 7, Blank, Bar, Bar-Bar, Wild, Blank,Blank respectively the display 16 is controlled to display the selectedsymbols at the centre line position with the symbols from each virtualreel as mapped above and below those symbols. Each symbol or stopposition may have a weighting as suggested in Telnaes, U.S. Pat. No.4,448,419, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

In an alternative embodiment the random number generator may selectrandom numbers which result in the placement of a symbol at eachposition in the matrix array departing from the concept of virtual reelstrips.

As in normal spinning reel games, the game controller 60 is adapted toreceive an instruction from the player interface 50 from a player whichenables a player to make a selection which affects the player'sentitlement to win (a “win entitlement”). In one example, a players winentitlement may be based on how many pay lines they will play in eachgame—i.e. a minimum of one pay line up to the maximum number of paylines allowed by the game (noting that not all permutations of win linesmay be available for selection). The player operates pay line selector56A of the instruction input mechanism 56 in order to select the numberof pay lines. In many games, the players win entitlement is not strictlylimited to the lines they have selected, for example, “scatter” pays areawarded independently of a player's selection of pay lines and are aninherent part of the win entitlement. The increased number of displaypositions provided by three dimensional arrays relative to twodimensional arrays of the same dimensions, as described herein, providesadditional options in game pay lines, game design and game play.

Persons, skilled in the art, will appreciate that in other embodiments,the player may obtain a win entitlement select a number of reels to playsuch as described in Bennett, U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,102 titled “ MultilineGaming Device” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference. Some pay arrangements may be formed by a set of symbolpositions made up of symbols from different reels making sucharrangement a type of structured “scatter” pay where there are nmpossible pay arrangements in a two dimensional array where n=number ofrows in the array and m=number of columns(reels). This scatter payarrangement may be used in lieu of pay lines in some embodiments;however due to the number and complexity of pay arrangements which wouldbe defined thereby, a pay line configuration is advantageous. In otherembodiments a player win entitlement may be defined by purchasing accessto particular pay tables—e.g. a first bet amount entitles the player towins including cherries and a second amount entitles them to winsincluding plums. The win entitlement is not always purchased—e.g. aseries of free games may be awarded to a player.

The win entitlements which can be purchased are usually advertised tothe player by markings on the display, for example by or diagramsshowing the symbol positions that correspond to each pay line.Typically, the pay lines will be constituted by symbol positions in thevisible window. A win outcome is determined based on the selectedsymbols of a game outcome and a player's win entitlement and a pay tablethat specifies awards.

Unlike conventional gaming machines, in the embodiment, the 3D displaycontroller 623 displays symbol data in a three dimensional array whichincludes three sub-arrays depicted as planar, two-dimensional, 3×3matrices of three-dimensionally rendered symbols stacked vertically oneabove the other as illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10.

Starting with the example of FIG. 8A, it will apparent that the displaycontroller is arranged to display 16, at least in the example of FIG.8A, twenty seven different symbol positions as defined by three, 3×3,sub-arrays 840, 850 and 860. It will be apparent from the perspectiveview of FIG. 8A that all of these symbol positions may not be visible atone time, in particular, the symbols in the lower plane 860 areinitially obscured by symbols of the middle plane 850. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that various display techniques will beavailable in order to display all the symbols, including making part ofthe display transparent or “ghost-like” during part of the displayroutine or rotating the symbol display, spacing the sub-arrays 840,850and 860 or providing an auxiliary display (e.g. on a display in the topbox 26) showing each of the sub-arrays in plan view. In each of FIGS. 8to 10, a common convention is used to designate the three axes of thethree dimensional array of display positions of symbols. As indicated byreference axis 805, the two horizontal axis are designated the X and Yaxis and the vertical axis is designated the Z axis.

Each sub-array 840, 850 and 860 is depicted as a 3×3 matrix of symbolsas would be displayed in a familiar, virtual, 3-reel slot machine. Thuseach sub-array 840, 850 and 860 presents 9 symbol positions defined bythree rows of symbols for each of three reels (in the X axis). The reelsfor one sub-array may be rotated 90 degrees relative to an adjoiningsub-array. For example, sub-array 849 may have its reels arrangedrotated 90 degrees relative to the reels of sub-array 850. In theembodiment the reels for all sub-arrays 840,850, 860 are arranged tospin in the same direction.

It will also be appreciate that the 3D display controller 623 may bearranged to display the reels as spinning in the direction of the zaxis. Further, other techniques may be used to display the symbolslocating in the display position without displaying reels or the like.For example, it is possible to individually select the symbols for eachposition and individually populate each of the display positions.

Referring to FIG. 8A, it will be apparent that the three dimensionalarray 800A shown in FIG. 8A is displayed in a perspective view in orderto maximise the number of display positions that are visible.

As shown in FIG. 8A each sub-array 840,850,860 includes five pay lines820 (shown in sub-array 840 only in FIG. 8A). FIG. 8B illustrates thepay lines that are available in the middle sub-array 850 as exemplifiedby pay line 820. FIG. 8C shows the pay lines in the bottom sub-array 860as exemplified by pay line 825. The pay lines lie in the individualsub-arrays. Thus, in the depicted embodiment, 3×5=15 pay arrangementsare shown.

FIGS. 9A to 9C illustrate a like number of pay lines that pass throughvertical planes 910, 920 and 930 respectively defined in the array 800Aand which include symbols from tow or more, in this case all three,sub-arrays 840,850, 860. Thus the vertical arrangement of pay lines inFIGS. 9A-9C shows another 3×5=15 pay lines.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other pay lines arepossible, for example an additional pay line could extend diagonally sothat it passes through each sub-array 840,850,860 and each verticalplane. It is also possible to have pay lines that reflect through thethree-dimensional array 800A to include symbols from differentsub-arrays 840,850,860. However, it will be appreciated thatirrespective of the embodiment, there will be pay lines in at least twodifferent sub-arrays 840,850,860.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that it is not strictlynecessary to employ both horizontal and vertical planes in the sameembodiment, although it is advantageous to do so.

FIG. 10A to 10F illustrate that the pay lines can be represented indifferent ways in that the display positions can be different. It can beapparent from FIGS. 10A to 10F that the displays 1000A to 1000F can takethe form of cubes rather than the open lattice type display of FIGS. 8and 9. Win lines can extend through horizontal planes as indicated bywin lines 1010A to 1010E and these planes can be transverse to oneanother as indicated by win line 1010F. Shading 1015 to 1019 can be usedto highlight different pay lines.

Once the symbols have been displayed at all the relevant positions undercontrol of a 3D display controller, the prize evaluator 622B determineswhether the symbols in their symbol positions (given the win entitlementof the player) result in the awarding of any prize based on the prizedata 641B. The prize evaluator 622B may compare the symbols selected anddisplayed in any arrangement selected by the player to be wagered upon.If the symbols for any wagered upon lines compares with a predeterminedwinning combination, the player is awarded a prize.

Various other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in theart, for example, the 3×3 array of FIGS. 8 to 10 can readily be extendedto a 4×4 array. Further, while in the exemplary embodiment there are nopurely vertical pay lines—i.e. which extend in a direction along the Zaxis, vertical pay lines could be used in some embodiments. Further, theinvention can be extended to rectangular prisms of display positions.For example, a 5×3×3 three-dimensional array.

The method of the invention is summarised as illustrated in FIG. 7 wherea pay line selection is received 710, symbols are selected 720, they aredisplayed in a three dimensional array 730 and prizes are evaluated fromthe player's selection of pay lines and the symbol patterns on those paylines.

In this respect, persons skilled in the art will appreciate the prizeevaluation may be in accordance with techniques known in the art.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the bets may relateto the lines that are available.

It should also be noted that scatter pays may also result in an award ifcertain symbols should occur, for example, in any position in each ofthe sub-arrays 840,850,860.

Other features found in conventional gaming machines including featuretrigger symbols and the like may be applied. Further, the size of thethree dimensional array could vary during game play. For example, aplayer may initially start with a two dimensional array of symbols butacquire a second two dimensional array of symbols or have the symbolsexpanded to a 3×3 matrix in response to a trigger event occurring. Sucha trigger event may be in accordance with techniques known in the artincluding the occurrence of a particular symbol in the base game, thepayment of an additional bet or trigger based on turnover or gamesplayed.

Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. As butan example, symbols from one or several of the arrays may be used assubstitute or additional symbols for a main game array to defineadditional winning outcomes. For example, the array 840 may represent aprimary array. Symbols at corresponding locations in arrays 850 and/or860 may be used to replace certain symbols at the primary array 840. Forexample, if either array 850 or 860 displays a wild symbol, that wildsymbol may be displayed as migrating to the primary array 840 to defineadditional winning symbol arrangements. In this fashion the symbols atarrays 850 or 860 may be used to define multipliers or otherwise changethe award as produced in the primary array 840.

Other variations would be apparent to persons skilled in the art andshould be considered as falling within the scope of the inventiondescribed herein.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred toherein, such reference does not constitute an admission that thepublication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art inany other country.

1. A gaming system for play of a game, comprising: a credit inputmechanism configured for player interaction to receive a physical itemfor credit input associated with a monetary value for establishing acredit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasablebased at least on wagering activity; a payout mechanism configured tocause a payout associated with the credit balance; a memory storingsymbol data representing a first plurality of symbols; a display havinga plurality of display positions arranged in a three-dimensional arrayhaving a plurality of sub-arrays displayed as a plurality of verticallystacked planar, two-dimensional matrices of three-dimensionally renderedsymbols, the three dimensional array having an axis of rotation, and agame controller, the game controller comprising: (i) a stop selectorconfigured to select a second plurality of symbols from said firstplurality of symbols via the memory in accord with the credit inputmechanism having received the physical item; (ii) a 3D graphics cardconfigured to cause said display to display the selected symbols atrespective ones of said plurality of display positions being arranged insaid plurality of sub-arrays and to cause said display to display afirst rendering of the plurality of vertically stacked planar,two-dimensional matrices of three-dimensionally rendered symbols suchthat the symbols of a first of said plurality of sub-arrays are viewableon the display, and to cause said display to display a rotation of thefirst rendering of the plurality of vertically stacked planar,two-dimensional matrices of three-dimensionally rendered symbols withrespect to the axis of the three-dimensional array such that the symbolsof a second of said plurality of sub-arrays are viewable on the displayas a second rendering of the plurality of vertically stacked planar,two-dimensional matrices of three-dimensionally rendered symbols, said3D graphics card configured to form an outcome of said game based onsaid displayed symbols; and (iii) an outcome determiner configured todetermine whether said outcome includes a winning outcome, and whereinsaid game controller is configured to increase the credit balance inresponse to said outcome determiner determining a winning outcome, andto make an award via said payout mechanism.
 2. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 1, and further comprising an interface configured toreceive a player selection defining a player win entitlement; andwherein said outcome determiner is further configured to determineoutcome based on the player win entitlement.
 3. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the player selection comprises at least oneof a plurality of pay lines, each pay line comprising a different set ofthe plurality of display positions, and wherein the outcome determineris further configured to determine a winning outcome based on eachplayer selected pay line and the selected symbols.
 4. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 3, and wherein the plurality of pay lines include paylines in respective ones of a plurality of different parallelsub-arrays.
 5. A gaming system as claimed in claim 3, and wherein atleast two of the plurality of pay lines are in respective ones of a pairof transverse sub-arrays.
 6. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, andwherein said 3D graphics card is configured to selectively rotate onesaid sub-array relative to another said sub-array.
 7. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 6, and wherein said outcome determiner is furtherconfigured to determine whether the three-dimensionally rendered symbolson a payline provide a winning outcome; and wherein said 3D graphicscard is further configured to rotate one of said sub-arrays to cause achange in symbols on said payline.